BBI Names Steve Smith “Giant of the Year”: BigBlueInteractive.com (BBI) yesterday named fourth-year wide receiver Steve Smith as its “Giant of the Year,” an award presented annually by the site’s membership.

In a statement received yesterday afternoon, Smith thanked the members of BBI and said, “In our game, individual recognition is the result of teamwork. I am humbled that BBI has chosen me as its Giant of the Year, but I wouldn’t even be a candidate if it weren’t for our entire offense, especially Eli. So I am thankful, and I am honored to be the first recipient after the award has been re-named in the memory of Hope, whose spirit and passion for the Giants embodied what being a Giants fan and being a member of BBI is all about. Hope was a great ambassador for the Giants, and it’s fitting this award should be in her name.”

The award, which honors the Giants player, coach or member of the front office who most contributed to the team’s success on the field in a given year, will be officially presented to Smith at a ceremony on an as-yet unscheduled date this summer at Giants training camp. Past winners include Brandon Jacobs, Plaxico Burress and Tiki Barber.

Smith, a second-round draft choice in 2007, had a phenomenal 2009 season in which he shattered Amani Toomer’s team record for catches in a single season with 107, 25 more catches than Toomer’s 82 in 2002. Smith also had 1,220 total yards, seven touchdowns and 61 first downs in 2009.

The award carries a special significance this year, as the trophy Smith will receive has been renamed to honor Hope Johnson, a beloved member of the BBI community and organizer of the “Giant of the Year” presentation, who died this past winter.

“The presentation of this award has become a highlight on the BBI calendar, and it will be even more special this year with the renaming of the trophy for Hope,” said BBI founder Eric Kennedy. “We hope this will continue to be a special tradition in which we can honor her memory for many years to come.”

BBI has been in continuous operation since 1995 and is the most popular fan-run website and online community dedicated to the New York Football Giants. BBI’s Front Page presents daily, in-depth, Giants news and analysis and receives more than 50,000 visitors and 500,000 page views per month. BBI’s online community, the Corner Forum, has approximately 4,500 active members and generates more than four million page views per month.

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